Messengers from John the Baptist

18 John's disciples told him about all these things. 19 So John called two of his disciples and sent them to ask [fn]Jesus, “Are yoʋ the one who is to come, or should we wait for another?” 20 When the men came to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to yoʋ to ask, ‘Are yoʋ the one who is to come, or should we wait for another?’ ” 21 [fn]Now in that very hour Jesus had healed many people of diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind. 22 So Jesus replied to John's disciples, “Go tell John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is anyone who does not take offense at me.”

24 When John's [fn]messengers had gone away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and who live in luxury are in royal palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one of whom it is written,

‘Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of yoʋ,

who will prepare yoʋr way before yoʋ.’

28 [fn]For I tell you, among those born of women there is no [fn]prophet greater than John [fn]the Baptist, but whoever is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (When all the people heard this, including the tax collectors, they acknowledged the justice of God, because they had been baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

31 [fn]“To what then should I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call out to one another,

‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance;

we sang a lament [fn]for you, but you did not weep.’

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”